News

The authorities in Uzbekistan are planning for a series of major road projects in a bid to boost the country’s transport connections and freight handling capabilities. A total of 2,306km of roads will be either built or upgraded in the country by 2015. Priority projects include building 1,008km of roads in the Beyneu-Andijan area, as well as rebuilding a 100km stretch of the Tashkent-Osh road. A total of 517km of roads and 544km of viaducts are to be to be built in 2012 under the plans.

In Romania the northern section of the bypass around the city of Constanta is open to traffic. The bypass forms part of the Pan-European Road Corridor IV and work on this section was financed by the European Bank for reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The southern stretch of the 23km bypass was completed in 2011. Now it is complete, the bypass will carry heavy port traffic away from Constanta. It will also provide a free-flowing route for tourist traffic from Romanian capital Bucharest and the north of

Austrian construction company Strabag’s “more than ambitious” €300million earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) target cannot be achieved, according to the firm’s management board. The board say the projected EBIT can now only be reached by “about two thirds”. This is said to be partly due to the delays of public authorities in Central and Eastern Europe in dealing with claims, especially in Poland; the cautious valuation of some construction projects; and the “ruinous price war” in the raw materials b

A stimulus package worth over €2 billion is being planned by the Irish Government. This will be used to fund infrastructure projects in the country, including major roads in Wexford and Galway. The package comprises funds from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) and the sale of State assets as well as from the public-private partnerships (PPPs). The N11/25 Enniscorthy and New Ross bypasses, and the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam scheme are set to gain also from funding from P

The EC is holding back financing of highway work in Romania. This move has come about following concerns over irregularities in relation to road projects in the country. The funds relate to the construction of Arad-Nadlac highway and this change is being made over a number of irregularities as well as suspicion over possible fraud. The EC approved financing for the construction of the 38.8km Arad-Nadlac highway back in September 2011. The total value of the project is €240.25 million and the project was sch

Qualcomm and Renault have announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for their intended cooperation on the London trial of Qualcomm Halo Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) technology, and their intent with respect to conducting preliminary studies of the integration of this technology into Renault vehicles.

South Korean company SK Innovation and international automotive supplier Continental, have signed an agreement founding a jointly managed company to develop and supply battery technology for the automotive industry. The know-how of both firms will be concentrated in this new company with the goal of mutually developing, producing and globally marketing lithium-ion battery systems for cars.

A new highway project in Mexico City is to commence in a bid to further tackle massive congestion problems. Mexico City suffers from amongst the worst traffic congestion in the world and peak time travel is notorious for delays and jams. A new high speed road is to be constructed as part of a long term plan to link major roads and reduce congestion. The contract was won by OHL Mexico’s subsidiary Controladora Via Rapida Poetas subsidiary. The deal will add a further 2km to a new 5km road under construction.

Two new highways are being built in the Philippines, costing some US$470 million in all. Both roads are for the Cavite-Laguna (CALA) Expressway project. This has been given the go-ahead by the National Economic and Development Authority's (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), but has yet to be endorsed by the NEDA board. One road will be built on the Laguna side and another will be built on the Cavite side. The Manila-Cavite Coastal Road will connect to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) via the Ca

A new report by research specialist Frost & Sullivan suggests that major vehicle producers are working on micro-mobility solutions. The development of these micro-mobility options is being carried out in parallel with that of more conventional four-wheeled vehicles. In all, the report suggests that 25 of the major vehicle manufacturers are working on a total of 150 micro-mobility projects aimed for launch by 2020. These international vehicle firms believe that micro-mobility solutions will suit commuter use

Two key tunnel projects are being planned in Switzerland at present, for projects at Jura and Gothard. The Swiss Federal Department for Infrastructure Uvek now intends to build a third tunnel at Jura Mountain by 2022. This will be the third link for Motorway 2 and will be completed before renovation work is carried out on the two existing tunnels. The new link will provide four lanes and ensure traffic flow continues while the existing links are improved. The construction of the third tunnel is expected to